Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 - Xbox 360https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/default.aspxen-USTelligent Community 1.5.134.12297 (Build: 5.5.134.12297)Dracula, Dead And Loathing Ithttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/25/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-review-.aspxTue, 25 Feb 2014 08:01:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6604384Jeff Cork0<p><img style="max-width:610px;" border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/review/castlevanialos20225-610.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was one of my favorite games of 2010. I loved the boldness of the reboot, recasting familiar bosses and reinterpreting characters and settings in imaginative ways. It ended on a killer double cliffhanger, where we learn that not only has Gabriel Belmont embraced his inner Dracula, but that he&rsquo;s stayed alive through the modern day. The scenario held a tantalizing amount of promise, and I was excited to see how MercurySteam would build off an excellent foundation. Unfortunately, this sequel is as fresh as a whiff of garlic breath.</p>
<p>It starts off with promise. Gabriel is tired of immortality, and an old acquaintance offers a deal: help defeat Satan&rsquo;s acolytes, and Gabe will get the eternal slumber he desperately craves. With the promise of death in his sights, he&rsquo;s off. Instead of his combat cross chain-whip contraption, now he attacks bad guys with a flail-like blood whip. He also has an icy sword and flaming claws, which allow him to leech life from his victims or burn through their defenses. Each weapon has its own skill tree, upgrades, and unlocks, which encourages you to try new things in battle rather than rely on a few tried-and-true combos. It&rsquo;s a decent-enough God of War clone, when enemies aren&rsquo;t stun-locking you out of combos from across the street while you simultaneously battle the camera.</p>
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<p>Satan&rsquo;s head honchos have embedded themselves in modern business, heading up industries including pharmaceutical and weapons manufacturing (har har). That gives Gabriel a reason to infiltrate a few generic factory levels, where he leaves his combat abilities at the door in exchange for tedious stealth &ndash; opening doors by turning into piles of rats and possessing generic guards. After surviving these sections, as well as a later stealth area that is truly a worst-in-class experience, I understand why Gabriel craves death&rsquo;s sweet embrace.</p>
<p>The modern-day setting is conceptually interesting, but fails in execution. Gabriel ends up spending the bulk of his time in abandoned alleys and the occasional ruined plaza. Satan&rsquo;s minions and other beasts warp in regularly, providing Gabe with the chance to use his revamped arsenal. It&rsquo;s up to him to beat up the world&rsquo;s armies of poorly realized demons, paladins, and robots.</p>
<p>Gabe does get to visit more classic Castlevania-style locations through some narrative gymnastics, and they&rsquo;re more interesting to look at and explore than barren aisles of flaming cars. Aside from one startlingly good section involving a toy theater, however, it&rsquo;s all ground previously covered in the first Lords of Shadow.</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s ultimately the problem with Lords of Shadow 2. This shambling monstrosity is composed of chunks from other, better games. Rather than blend them together into something new like its predecessor attempted, this one just feels like a patchwork mess.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6604384" width="1" height="1">konamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360Actioncastlevaniamercurysteamlords of shadow 2ReviewThe Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 Launch Trailerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/24/the-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-launch-trailer.aspxMon, 24 Feb 2014 16:09:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6602751Matthew Kato0https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6602751https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/24/the-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-launch-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/clos22.24610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Developer MercurySteam caught the eye of gamers with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and the sequel closes out the storyline of Gabriel Belmont in an adventure set in modern times. Get a taste of the action via the game&#39;s official launch trailer.</p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 comes out tomorrow, February 25, for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.</p>
<p>Our review of the game in the March issue (#251) is already available to print and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/mag/default.aspx">digital subscribers</a>.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6602751" width="1" height="1">konamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActionmercurysteamPCDracula Gets His Hands Dirty In Chaos Claws Trailerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/13/dracula-gets-his-hands-dirty-in-lords-of-shadow-2-chaos-claws-trailer.aspxThu, 13 Feb 2014 16:10:25 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6576147Mike Futter31https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6576147https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/13/dracula-gets-his-hands-dirty-in-lords-of-shadow-2-chaos-claws-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/chaos-claws/ChaosClaws-610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Last week, we showed you a clip of Dracula&rsquo;s life-sapping <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/themes/blogs/generic/post.aspx?WeblogApp=pc&amp;y=2014&amp;m=02&amp;d=06&amp;WeblogPostName=get-a-grip-on-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2s-void-sword&amp;GroupKeys=games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/">Void Sword</a>. Today, we&rsquo;ve got footage of another weapon found early in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.</p>
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<p>The Chaos Claws are used to slash through enemy defenses, leaving enemies vulnerable to other weapons. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is due out on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on February 25.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6576147" width="1" height="1">konamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActionDracula's Void Swordhttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/06/get-a-grip-on-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2s-void-sword.aspxThu, 06 Feb 2014 15:09:52 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6563858Matthew Kato21https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6563858https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/06/get-a-grip-on-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2s-void-sword.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/lords2sword610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Even Dracula needs help sometimes. Players will get the Void Sword pretty early in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, and judging by this video footage, will proceed to lay waste to enemies.</p>
<p>The sword also has another side to it: When it strikes an enemy, it adds some of that enemy&#39;s health to Dracula&#39;s.</p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 comes out on February 25 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Digital subscribers to Game Informer can check out <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/mag/default.aspx">our review here</a>.</p>
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<p>For more on the game, here&#39;s a look at the <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/05/meet-an-defeat-the-toymaker-in-this-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-gameplay-clip.aspx">Toymaker boss fight</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6563858" width="1" height="1">konamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActionmercurysteamMeet (And Defeat) The Toymaker In This Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 Gameplay Cliphttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/05/meet-an-defeat-the-toymaker-in-this-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-gameplay-clip.aspxWed, 05 Feb 2014 15:53:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6561884Kyle Hilliard28https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6561884https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/05/meet-an-defeat-the-toymaker-in-this-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-gameplay-clip.aspx#comments<p><img border="0" style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/preview/toymaker/TOYMAKER_610.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>As&nbsp; Lords of Shadow nears release, Konami and developer Mercury Steam are moving away from trailers, and instead offering gameplay footage. The newest video introduces the Toymaker and showcases the ensuing boss fight.</p>
<p>The nearly nine-minute clip shows a boss battle and the cutscenes that occur before and after it. In the clip, Gabriel Belmont and The Toymaker make reference to The Mirror of Fate &ndash; an important object from the 3DS Lords of Shadow game that released last year.</p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on February 27. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2014/01/09/battling-satan_1920_s-forces-in-castlevania_3a00_-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx">our extensive hands-on coverage</a>, some <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/01/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-videos-detail-the-world-and-music.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&amp;utm_medium=twitter">recent behind the scenes videos</a>, as well as a <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2013/12/16/a-closer-look-at-dracula-39-s-vampiric-powers.aspx">break-down of all of Dracula&#39;s vampiric powers</a>. You can also check out the game&#39;s most recent trailer,<a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/01/23/meet-the-cast-of-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx">&nbsp;here</a>.</p>
<p>You can also read our review of Castevania: Lords of Shadow 2 in the latest digital issue of the magazine, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/mag/default.aspx">which subscribers can read here</a>.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6561884" width="1" height="1">draculakonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevanialords of shadow 2Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 Videos Detail The World And Musichttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/01/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-videos-detail-the-world-and-music.aspxSat, 01 Feb 2014 21:00:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6556510Kyle Hilliard22https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6556510https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/02/01/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-videos-detail-the-world-and-music.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/preview/trailer/lordsworldmusic_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Two new behind the scenes videos for the upcoming sequel to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow showcase the impressive score, and detail the game&#39;s world.</p>
<p>The first of two videos looks at the game&#39;s world, which is structured much differently from the previous game. Both the way it looks and the way players explore is much different from the first game.</p>
<p><b>Developer Diary #2</b><br />(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>The second video showcases how the game&#39;s score was developed and shows the recording process at the iconic Abbey Roda Studios.</p>
<p><b>Abbey Road Studios Behind The Scenes</b><br />(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on February 27. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2014/01/09/battling-satan_1920_s-forces-in-castlevania_3a00_-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx">our extensive hands-on coverage</a>, as well as a <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2013/12/16/a-closer-look-at-dracula-39-s-vampiric-powers.aspx">break-down of all of Dracula&#39;s vampiric powers</a>. You can also check out the game&#39;s most recent trailer, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/01/23/meet-the-cast-of-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx">head here</a>.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6556510" width="1" height="1">konamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevanialords of shadow 2musicmercery steamscoreMeet The Cast Of Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/01/23/meet-the-cast-of-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.aspxThu, 23 Jan 2014 15:33:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6542082Kyle Hilliard59https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6542082https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/01/23/meet-the-cast-of-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/preview/trailer/lordsshadow2123_610a.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>The sequel to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is only a month away and the latest trailer introduces the game&#39;s cast, including some characters we haven&#39;t seen before.</p>
<p>The trailer showcases Robert Carlyle and Patrick Stewart returning to their original roles, and we get to meet the rest of the cast and their voice actors. the video also offers a handful of new gameplay scenes that we haven&#39;t seen before. We spoke with Robert Carylye about taking on the role of Dracula recently. You can read about it <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/21/how-robert-carlyle-influenced-the-design-of-castlevania-39-s-dracula.aspx">here</a> and <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2013/09/16/giving-the-dark-lord-voice-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-roundtable.aspx">here</a>.</p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on February 27. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2014/01/09/battling-satan_1920_s-forces-in-castlevania_3a00_-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx">our extensive hands-on coverage</a>, as well as a <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2013/12/16/a-closer-look-at-dracula-39-s-vampiric-powers.aspx">break-down of all of Dracula&#39;s vampiric powers</a>.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6542082" width="1" height="1">belmontkonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActionlords of shadow 2mercury steamalucardCastlevania: Lords of ShadowvampiredraculiitwoBattling Satan’s Forces As The Prince Of Darknesshttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/01/09/battling-satan_1920_s-forces-in-castlevania_3A00_-lords-of-shadow-2.aspxThu, 09 Jan 2014 14:00:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6506153Matthew Kato2https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6506153https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2014/01/09/battling-satan_1920_s-forces-in-castlevania_3A00_-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/preview/dracula-518-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Last time we got our hands on MercurySteam&rsquo;s Lords of Shadow 2, Dracula defended his castle against an army of holy knights. By the time this short demo concluded, the Belmont-turned-vampire had destroyed a gigantic holy robot and bested a golden-winged warrior. Konami has supplied us with the next few hours of gameplay, which picks up right after this dramatic battle. Our hands-on time [<i>by editor Tim Turi - Ed.</i>] includes encounters with the Devil&rsquo;s servants, a journey through modern times, and an intense faceoff against a gigantic Gorgon.</p>
<p>The action picks up with Dracula taking on a paladin who begins praying for God to save him from the Prince of Darkness. Belmont, formerly a warrior of God himself, begins to mockingly pray along with the warrior. Dracula&rsquo;s blasphemous act causes a tremendous explosion that can be seen from a zoomed-out shot of the planet. The battlefield is seemingly leveled and the story jumps forward to the modern times teased during the post-credits sequence of the original Lords of Shadow.</p>
<p>A withered, drained Dracula stirs in his throne room as he remembers his former conversation with Zobek. His former ally threw him through his castle&rsquo;s tremendous stained glass window into a busy downtown area. In this preview we finally stepped onto the city streets for the first time. Unlike the bright, bustling city life we saw at the end of Lords of Shadow, the streets are riddled with detritus and poor souls. I control a weakened Dracula as he shambles past beggars and drug dealers. A young boy in blue appears, beckoning Dracula to follow. The boy&rsquo;s identity isn&rsquo;t revealed in the demo, but it&rsquo;s likely Trevor, which Lords of Shadow 2&rsquo;s intro (along with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow &ndash; Mirror of Fate) reveals to be Gabriel Belmont&rsquo;s son. Following the young boy leads to a battle with a demon lurking in the shadows. Dracula attempts to slash at and dodge the twisted monster. Given his weakened state, the legendary vampire falls. He maintains consciousness long enough to see an armored figure slice the demon in half with a huge sword.</p>
<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/preview/dracula1.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Once Dracula comes to, he&rsquo;s in a room with a captive family. A father and mother attempt to shield their child from the waking vampire. The view shifts into first-person for this brief sequence as the thirsty monster feeds on all three. Color returns to Dracula&rsquo;s skin and his appearance changes to one more in line with the Gabriel Belmont we know from the first Lords of Shadow. Zobek reveals himself as responsible for saving Dracula. The mysterious man needs his help combating the legions of Satan, which are attempting to take over the world and convert Dracula&rsquo;s remaining forces. Zobek&rsquo;s bargaining chip to gain Dracula&rsquo;s allegiance is offering him an escape from torturous immortality.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Dracula&rsquo;s first target is a pharmaceutical company Zobek suspects is under the control of one of Satan&rsquo;s acolytes. After venturing through a portal, Dracula ends up near the building&rsquo;s loading docks. Parked vehicles and piles of chemical barrels are fenced in by a barbed wire fence. An occasional car drives by in the distant streets. Taking control of Dracula, I lift a metal gate and proceed inside. A bulky armed brute guards the first door. Dracula is no match for him yet. I sneak up behind the foe and use Dracula&rsquo;s power of possession to take control. Guiding the brute allows me to pull a few switches and enter the facility.</p>
<p>A little further in I&rsquo;m confronted with a guard I cannot possess. A nearby shadow indicates that I can morph into a cluster of rats to sneak by. I enter the air ducts and weasel past the deadly enemy. Get too close to a bad guy and they&rsquo;ll stomp the rats under Dracula&rsquo;s influence. These stealth sections are simple and spread out in the short preview. Don&rsquo;t be fooled into thinking Dracula is becoming the next Solid Snake; these sections feel more like brief environmental puzzles to mix up the action.</p>
<p>Speaking of action, Dracula has a few new tricks up his sleeves. Similar to Gabriel&rsquo;s dual light and dark magic from the first Lords of Shadow, Dracula has a void sword and chaos gauntlets at his disposal. Hewing down enemies with the sword refills his health, but also lets him freeze objects from a distance. This ranged freeze attack allows Dracula to turn waterfalls into traversable walls and slow down speedy enemies. The chaos gauntlets pack a harder punch and also let the Prince of Darkness bust through shields and other tough barriers. These weapons are fueled by special orbs that players accumulate by performing well in combat (avoiding damage while dealing lots of it). Charging either weapon depends on which analog stick you press down.</p>
<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/preview/dracula2.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>The bulk of combat occurs when you travel through an enigmatic portal into Dracula&rsquo;s castle. Harpies and hammer-wielding hulks are among the enemies lurking the dark hallways. A trigger allows Dracula to dodge or deflect attacks, which is handy for delivering devastating counters. Weave in a freeze attack on a harpy to ground the annoying beast for a thorough beating. The big guys carrying hammers are most vulnerable on their backside, making heavy attacks with the chaos gauntlets the best call. The blood whip acts as Dracula&#39;s effective neutral weapon. The action feels as fast and responsive as the original Lords of Shadow. My major stumbling points come from failing timed blocks or positioning the controllable camera in the correct direction. Like the first, Lords of Shadow 2 can be challenging, but the hard knocks are worth it when you&rsquo;ve cleared the battlefield.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The preview is capped off with an intense battle against Medusa. The mythical gorgons are usually under Dracula&rsquo;s control, but the corrupting blood of Satan flowing through the castle morphs them into one gigantic abomination. This boss battle harkens back to the large-scale enemies from the first Lords of Shadow. Dracula must dodge huge swipes from the beast&rsquo;s claws and cut down tentacles to regain weapon energy. The void sword is used to freeze Medusa&rsquo;s hand to the ground, allowing the vampire to climb up her and attack one of the three heads. Boss fights is one of the series&rsquo; strong points, and this Medusa battle lives up to those standards. The fight ends with Dracula tearing a sedan-sized heart from the boss&rsquo;s body, which quickly turns to stone and crumbles to reveal a mysterious red gem. We&rsquo;ll have to wait until the game&rsquo;s release to find out what the artifact does for the legendary vampire.</p>
<p>MercurySteam&rsquo;s third entry in the rebooted Castlevania series is shaping up to be a great time for longtime fans and action enthusiasts in general. Occasional camera problems and a few too many quick-time events distracted from the fun a few times, but I&rsquo;m still excited to continue Belmont&rsquo;s dark adventure. Lords of Shadow 2 hits PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC February 25.</p>
<p><i>For more screens check the media gallery below. And for more information on Dracula&#39;s vampiric powers <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/ps3/archive/2013/12/16/a-closer-look-at-dracula-39-s-vampiric-powers.aspx">click here</a></i></p>
<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6506153" width="1" height="1">draculakonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevaniamercurysteamlords of shadow 2Castlevania: Lords of ShadowA Closer Look At Dracula's Vampiric Powershttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/12/16/a-closer-look-at-dracula-39-s-vampiric-powers.aspxMon, 16 Dec 2013 18:00:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6465476Tim Turi0https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6465476https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/12/16/a-closer-look-at-dracula-39-s-vampiric-powers.aspx#comments<p><img border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/dracula-dragon-500-610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 marks the first time in series history that players control the Prince of Darkness himself (excluding that <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/editors/b/gitim_blog/archive/2012/04/09/my-missing-castlevania-link-falling-in-love-with-kid-dracula.aspx">lovable tyke Kid Dracula</a>). Gabriel Belmont has become Dracula, and his former life as a warrior of God has imbued him with some formidable abilities. We spoke with producer Dave Cox about the Dark Lord&#39;s vampiric powers, complete with exclusive concept art and examples of these evil tricks.</p>
<p>&quot;We wanted Dracula to be a very powerful character but at the same time, we didn&rsquo;t want him to be overpowered,&quot; Cox says. &quot;So we very carefully selected the powers and abilities that he would be able to wield. We took inspiration from the older Castlevania games and vampires from other media in general to arrive at the final list. We tested certain abilities in gameplay and anything that smelt like being over powered we scrapped. Our ultimate goal was for the character to be powerful but temper that with a strong strategic element in any power that he had access to.&quot;</p>
<p>With those key design tenets in place we&#39;ll take a tour through the abilities that Konami is ready to reveal at this time.</p>
<p><strong><span style="background-color:#888888;"><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="background-color:#ffffff;">Mist Form</span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p>Dracula can transform into a elusive vapor. Becoming a cloud of floating particles allows him to reach new locations or evade unwanted enemy encounters. Once in a scuffle, Dracula can use his mist form to phase through enemies and avoid taking damage. Fans of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night&#39;s mist form shouldn&#39;t expect Dracula to float around the game world like Alucard, however. It sounds like Dracula&#39;s vaporous skill is slightly more grounded.</p>
<p><img border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/1.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;">Bat Swarm</span></span></strong></p>
<p>Vampires are famous for their ability to turn into bats, but Lords of Shadow 2&#39;s Dracula uses them in a way more similar to Batman. Dracula can summon bat swarms and bend their will to his own. These flying mammals can be directed to distract enemies and even the odds in mismatched encounters. When facing multiple enemies, Dracula can unleash his bats on an enemy to stun them and temporarily remove them from the situation.</p>
<p>Konami is hesitant to reveal why a vampire as powerful as Dracula would need to sneak by enemies, but Cox did offer a bit of insight. &quot;What I can say is that there are some distinct moments in gameplay when we require the player to take a more sneaky, stealthy approach using certain abilities like distracting an enemy or glamoring them to possess their body and pass by unnoticed,&quot; he says. &quot;Dracula begins the game with many of his powers missing and rushing in with just your whip can prove foolish. These are special moments that give the player a break from the norm.&quot;</p>
<p>Take a look at a demonstrative animation of Dracula summoning his army of winged helpers:</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;">Vampiric Glamor</span></span></strong></p>
<p>In Bram Stoker&#39;s <i>Dracula</i>, the iconic vampire charms a insane asylum inmate to do his bidding. Similarly, Lords of Shadow 2&#39;s Dracula can glamor his foes when they are unaware. These enemies can then be directly controlled by the player to interact with the environment or access new areas. Glamoring enemies is a great way to use these dim-witted pawns to open doors or preemptively take them out of a battle.</p>
<p><img border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/12.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;">Dragon Form</span></span></strong></p>
<p>At the end of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (<a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/10/29/spoiled-castlevania-lords-of-shadow.aspx">watch this episode of Spoiled! to learn more</a>), Gabriel Belmont says &quot;...I am the dragon, Dracul! I am the prince of darkness!&quot; Calling himself &quot;The Dragon&quot; wasn&#39;t just flashy lip service. In Lords of Shadow 2, Dracula can literally transform into a dragon and obliterate his enemies. These fantastic flying creatures exited eons ago in the Lords of Shadow universe, but Dracula&#39;s unique ability lets him become one in the present. He combines dragon scales with a mysterious talisman to unlock this dark power, which allows him to quickly turn the tides of battle.</p>
<p>We asked Cox whether Dracula&#39;s dragon form is on a cooldown timer of if he needs to find new resources for each use. &quot;Dracula&rsquo;s dragon form requires dragon scales to use and once used, the player will need to find the requisite number of dragon scales to perform again,&quot; Cox says. &quot;This ability is very powerful and can get you out of a jam when push comes to shove.&quot;</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>Here&#39;s a storyboard sketch of Dracula&#39;s transformation into a Dragon:</p>
<p><a href="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/11.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/11.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;">Shadow Daggers</span></span></strong></p>
<p>We already know that Dracula uses his own blood to form a glowing red whip he uses to lash his foes. He can also cut his wrists to focus his life force into daggers. These projectiles can be used to deal a powerful blow and destabilize enemies.</p>
<p>Many of Dracula&#39;s powerful abilities are dependent on his supply of blood, which can be refilled by biting the necks of stunned enemies. We asked Cox about this design choice. &quot;Blood drives Dracula&rsquo;s abilities,&quot; he says. &quot;Collecting blood from enemies allows Dracula&#39;s abilities to be used, if you cannot master the focus system then you will not have access to all of Dracula&#39;s abilities and powers. Why? We want players to play well&hellip;if they do, they will be rewarded with a vast amount of powers and abilities that will allow them to take enemies down easier. If they don&#39;t play well, they will struggle to finish the game. they will get frustrated and will get their asses handed to them by the bosses and creatures they will face. Play the game and use the mechanics and you will be a very powerful vampire lord and feel awesome doing it.&quot;</p>
<p><img border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/3.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;">Seal of Alastor</span></span></strong></p>
<p>In addition to Dracula&#39;s latent abilities, he also collects relics and powers that unlock new potential. The Seal of Alastor is an item that can be shattered to unleash the soul of a legendary warrior. Once activated, Seal of Alastor unlocks all of Dracula&#39;s weapon skills regardless of his progress. This temporary access to a slew of powerful moves tilts the scales in Dracula&#39;s favor while it lasts.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p><img border="0" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/draculapowers/2.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p><strong><span style="color:#800000;"><span style="font-size:large;">Stolas&#39; Clock</span></span></strong></p>
<p>The clocks of Stolas are some of the most precious relics in Dracula&#39;s world. The demon prince Stolas enclosed the ashes of a thousand dead bodies in these twisted hourglasses. These clocks slow time when shattered, allowing Dracula the upper hand in battle. He also accrues more experience from his kills while its effects last.&nbsp;</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p>These vampiric abilities are just a slice of the dark powers available at Dracula&#39;s blood-stained fingertips in Lords of Shadow 2. MercurySteam&#39;s creative flair for destroying terrible monsters is intact with this sequel, and we can&#39;t wait to test drive them when the game releases on PS3, 360, and PC on February 27.</p>
<p><i>For more on Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/20/surviving-dracula-s-castle-in-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx">read our preview from this year&#39;s San Diego Comic-Con</a></i></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6465476" width="1" height="1">draculakonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevaniamercurysteamlords of shadow 2Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 Developer Diary Details Draculahttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/11/10/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-developer-diary-details-dracula.aspxSun, 10 Nov 2013 22:19:51 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6403096Kyle Hilliard10https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6403096https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/11/10/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-developer-diary-details-dracula.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/halloweentrailer/castlelos2_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>For the first time in Castlevania history, Dracula is the star of the game in Lords of Shadow 2. The latest developer diary takes a look at how seriously developer Mercury Steam took the job of making Dracula more than just an end boss.</p>
<p>In the video below, you will hear from Lords of Shadow 2 producer Dave Cox and studio head Enric Alvarez about designing Dracula, and where his motivations lie. We also recently spoke with Dracula&#39;s performer, Robert Carlyle about portraying the character, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/21/how-robert-carlyle-influenced-the-design-of-castlevania-39-s-dracula.aspx">which you can check out here</a>.</p>
<p>For more on Lords of Shadow 2, you can check out the most recent trailer, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/31/preview-learn-alucards-role-in-the-latest-castlevania_3a00_-lords-of-shadow-2-trailer.aspx">which focuses on Alucard&#39;s role in the game</a>. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on February 25.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6403096" width="1" height="1">draculakonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevanialords of shadow 2developer diarylos2Learn Alucard's Role In The Latest Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 Trailerhttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/31/preview-learn-alucards-role-in-the-latest-castlevania_3A00_-lords-of-shadow-2-trailer.aspxThu, 31 Oct 2013 14:37:26 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:6086703Kyle Hilliard51https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=6086703https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/31/preview-learn-alucards-role-in-the-latest-castlevania_3A00_-lords-of-shadow-2-trailer.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/halloweentrailer/lordsofshadow2otrailer_610a.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>It&#39;s Halloween, which is the perfect time to release a new trailer for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2.</p>
<p>The latest trailer dives into Lords of Shadow 2&#39;s story, and offers a small reveal toward Alucard&#39;s appearance in the game. We also see Belmont&#39;s wife, Marie, in the trailer, whose death served an important role in the original Lords of Shadow.</p>
<p>The end of the trailer also showcases the game&#39;s collector&#39;s edition. The trailer featured here is for the European release of the game, so a North American collector&#39;s edition of the game may differ.</p>
<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/halloweentrailer/lordsofshadow2otrailer_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on February 25. For more on the game, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/21/how-robert-carlyle-influenced-the-design-of-castlevania-39-s-dracula.aspx">check out our interview with Dracula&#39;s performer</a>, Robert Carlyle. You can also play a demo of the game by <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/10/26/castlevania-mirror-of-fate-hd-available-now-includes-lords-of-shadow-2-demo.aspx">picking up Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD</a> which recently released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=6086703" width="1" height="1">belmontkonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevaniamercurysteamlords of shadow 2mercury steamalucardCastlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 Composer Publishes Dracula's Theme Onlinehttps://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/05/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-composer-publishes-dracula-39-s-theme-online.aspxSat, 05 Oct 2013 17:52:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:4963620Kyle Hilliard28https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=4963620https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/05/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-composer-publishes-dracula-39-s-theme-online.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/dracool_610.jpg" style="max-width:610px;" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>Oscar Araujo, the man behind the music of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and its sequel, recently posted a YouTube video offering the entirety of Dracula&#39;s Theme in Lords of Shadow 2.</p>
<p>You can check out the full theme below, an appropriately melancholy tune for the Prince of Darkness.</p>
<p>Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 is releasing February of next year. For more on Castlevania, and specifically on Dracula, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/07/21/how-robert-carlyle-influenced-the-design-of-castlevania-39-s-dracula.aspx">check out our interview with Robert Carlyle</a>, the actor portraying Dracula in Lords of Shadow 2.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p>
<p><i>[Via: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=691733">NeoGAF</a>]</i></p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=4963620" width="1" height="1">konamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevaniamercurysteamthemelords of shadow 2musicsoundtrackmercury steamTest-driving Dracula, Fangs And All In Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/06/11/test-driving-dracula-fangs-and-all-in-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.aspxTue, 11 Jun 2013 08:29:00 GMT79ef0c18-1c65-4225-984f-fdaeab0f0862:2971443Tim Turi0https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/rsscomments.aspx?WeblogPostID=2971443https://www.gameinformer.com/games/castlevania_lords_of_shadow_2/b/xbox360/archive/2013/06/11/test-driving-dracula-fangs-and-all-in-castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.aspx#comments<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/lordsofshadow2-115-610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Castlevania fans have been battling Dracula for decades, but the Dark Lord&rsquo;s powers are finally in their hands with Lords of Shadow 2. We got a taste of his evil powers in a playable preview build. </p>
<p><i>This preview originally appears in Game Informer issue #243.</i></p>
<p>The end of the first Lords of Shadow reveals that Dracula has survived until present day. He resides in a Gothic castle that a modern city has been built around. Players will be able to travel back and forth between the city and castle freely. MercurySteam is offering a more open world this time, which expands as you explore. The city contains bright lights and a Times Square-like area, but still has tight corridors, hints of medieval architecture, and gargoyles to maintain that oppressive Castlevania feeling. The castle itself is more dreamlike, toying with reality as you trek through its dark halls.</p>
<p>The demo highlights the beginning of the game, which takes place 1,000 years in the past. An army of soldiers sieges Dracula&rsquo;s castle. The Prince of Darkness sits casually at his throne as a battering ram bashes against his door. The action begins when they finally breach the room, a perfect opportunity to test out Dracula&rsquo;s full suite of abilities. Like the previous game, players lay waste to lesser foes like these knights with a series of whip attacks. You can now control the camera at will, making it easier to steer the fury of Dracula&rsquo;s glowing red Blood Whip. The dodge ability is snappier now, and even knocks over foes in your path.</p>
<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/konami/castlevanialordsofshadow2/lordsofshadow2-116-610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>Swapping between light and dark magic played a large role in the first Lords of Shadow, and that combat variety continues with multiple weapons. Dracula can swap between the Void Sword and Chaos Claws on the fly. The flaming Chaos Claws allow you to perform slow, heavy attacks that are great for shattering enemy armor and shields. The Void Sword replenishes your health as you hew through the opposition. Should you run low on health or magic (which lets you use the sword and claws), Dracula can replenish himself by drinking the blood of dazed foes.</p>
<p>The action eventually spills out into the castle yard, where a tremendous army encroaches upon the fortress. A huge Siege Titan breaks through the fray, and a golden, winged paladin soars towards Dracula. This boss pesters Dracula intermittently throughout this intro sequence. Dismantling the Titan mixes together combat and platforming as you scale the machine. Enemies pour out of openings, engaging you in battle on the Titan&rsquo;s arm as it pounds against the castle. The Paladin flies nearby, firing arrows at Dracula as he climbs. One of my favorite elements of this dramatic encounter involves baiting the Paladin to shoot critical rivets on the Siege Titan, causing sections of the mechanical monster to fall off. After a series of leaps through deadly gears and more skirmishing, Dracula finds the Titan&rsquo;s controls and vomits blood all over them. The demo ends as the mechanical giant malfunctions and crashes to the ground.</p>
<p>Konami says Dracula encounters his son, Alucard, shortly after destroying the Siege Titan. After the father-and-son encounter, Dracula wakes up 1,000 years into the future in present day as a paler, gaunt vampire. He&rsquo;s been stripped of all his armaments, beginning his quest to free himself from the shackles of immortality with his bare fists.</p>
<p>The gameplay improvements and large-scale encounters become even more impressive as you realize Lords of Shadow 2 never pauses to load. Everything we saw is seamless. Even after dying in the Siege Giant&rsquo;s grinding cogs, players are resurrected a short distance away without skipping a beat. Technical advances such as this indicate that Konami and MercurySteam aren&rsquo;t happy with &ldquo;good enough,&rdquo; and are striving to make Lords of Shadow 2 a high-water mark for the series.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2971443" width="1" height="1">belmontdraculakonamiCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2Xbox 360PreviewActioncastlevaniamercurysteamlords of shadow